Brian Helm is the CEO of the Helm Group, one of the largest specialty contractors in the Midwest. He has been CEO since 2010 and mechanical sector president since 2001. In that time, the company has grown to over 1,000 employees and $300 million in annual revenue. The Freeport, Illinois-based company is known for delivering value to its customers in the transportation, healthcare, industrial, education, aquatic, mission critical, energy, and wastewater treatment sectors. The company employs engineers, pipefitters, plumbers, sheet metal workers, operators, carpenters, iron workers, cement finishers, laborers, electricians, controls technicians, virtual design technicians, and management staff. Brian also serves as the president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America and a past president of the Chicago MCA. He volunteers on the boards of many charitable organizations and is active in the Young Presidents Association. He holds engineering degrees from Duke University and Georgia Tech and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Illinois. On a personal note, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife, Kari, and their three children, Lily, Charlie, and Chase. When he and Kari are not attending the kids’ various tennis and cross country events, the family enjoys skiing, boating, and playing board games.

As Sheet Metal Design Manager, Granlund is responsible for creating HVAC coordination and fabrication drawings that conform to specifications. Other duties include reviewing all equipment submittals for conformance to project requirements, preparing RFIs, field surveys when required, and coordination with other trades to avoid installation conflicts. Coordinate shop fabrication and delivery with Field Foreman and job schedule. Along with his duties as a Sheet Metal Design Coordinator, he also manages the Autodesk Fabrication Software. This is the software that Ahern uses to design, estimate, and fabricate mechanical and plumbing systems.

As Construction Sales Manager, Ransom, is responsible for managing and overseeing all aspects of preconstruction and construction activity from conceptual estimating through design and construction. He joined the company in May 1991 as an Assistant Project Manager. He was promoted to Project Manager in September 1994, Department Manager in 1998, Department Vice President in 2005, and Commercial Estimating Vice President in 2008.

Ben Bunge serves as the General Manager of Aviation at The Weitz Company, where he leads the firm's national aviation practice, delivering complex infrastructure projects that are transforming the travel experience across the U.S.

Ben began his career at Weitz in 2004 as a construction engineering intern while attending Iowa State University. Since then, he has grown through operational and leadership roles, ultimately guiding aviation teams on some of the country’s most high-profile airport developments.

Under his leadership, The Weitz Company delivered the $1.5 Billion Kansas City International Airport New Terminal—the largest single infrastructure project in Kansas City’s history. His portfolio also includes transformative work at Phoenix Sky Harbor, Des Moines International, and Orlando International Airports, encompassing not only terminal construction but also the seamless integration of supporting systems such as Automated People Movers (APMs), Consolidated Rent-A-Car (CONRAC) facilities, and advanced Baggage Handling Systems (BHS). These components are essential to improving passenger flow, reducing congestion, and enhancing operational efficiency across the entire airport ecosystem.

A strong advocate for innovation, Ben has championed the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to enhance collaboration, accuracy, and cost control across multidisciplinary teams. His teams leverage prefabrication and modular construction strategies to accelerate schedules and reduce waste—delivering mission-critical aviation assets with precision and efficiency.

Driven by a passion for innovation and strategic collaboration, Ben is positioning The Weitz Company at the forefront of next-generation aviation infrastructure—building smarter, faster, and more resilient airports and aviation projects for the future of travel.